Ridwan - How is genre conveyed in Kidulthood?

How is genre conveyed through the technical features in your film opening?

The opening segment of the film ‘Kidulthood’ uses several technical features in the camera angles, editing, sound and mis en scene to convey the genre ‘crime’.

Some of the technical features that were used with the camera angles in the film ‘Kidulthood’ have conveyed the genre of ‘crime’. Fast camera pans were used in the opening of ‘Kidulthood’, this makes the audience confused and makes them feel disorientated. This camera shot was used in the opening to start the film off with disequilibrium. Another camera angle which was used in the opening segment that made the audience feel confused and disorientated was the sudden movement of the camera and them slow motion straight after. This was used to introduce some of the characters in the film, the fast pans between characters and sudden slow motions makes the audience confused and creates disorientation. Throughout the opening of the film ‘Kidulthood’ there were not many still camera shots. The very few still camera angles suggests that throughout the film it be a lively, active and full of action. Usually throughout films with the genre ‘crime’, there is non-stop action, crime, adventure, etc. Focusing on the background/foreground was used to introduce some of the characters in the film ‘Kidulthood’. This technique along side with the fast camera pans was used to introduce the main character. The representation of the characters, and the transitions from one character to the next by using the focusing technique convey the genre ‘crime’ in the opening segment of ‘Kidulthood’. 

Background Unfocused 

Burry Pans

Editing is another technical feature that was used in the opening of the film ‘Kidulthood’ to convey the genre ‘crime’. Fast transitions such as jump cuts were used in the opening scene of ‘Kidulthood’; these sudden transitions represent the genre ‘Crime’ in the opening segment. Another technical feature, which is used to represent the genre ‘Crime’, is the jump cuts between the people playing football and the main characters. The opening of the film starts off with disequilibrium and makes the audience feels disorientated. Making the first few seconds of the film opening slow motion starts the film off in disequilibrium.

People playing football

Sound is another technical feature that is used to convey the genre ‘Crime’ in the opening of the film ‘Kidulthood’. The music in the background of the opening is used of keep the film feeling active and to build up interest, this is a common technique used in ‘Crime’. Another technical feature to do with sound that is used in the opening of the film ‘Kidulthood’ is the background conversations, swearing, etc. All of these indications that the opening is taking place in a school playground.

Mis en scene is also another technical feature used to convey the genre ‘Crime’. The clothing is one of the major techniques used in the film to convey the genre. Everyone in the opening scene is wearing uniform, this indicates that the scene is taking place in a school. There is only one person not wearing uniform, this is used to make the character stand out from the rest; we soon know that the character not wearing uniform is the main character. This technique is used to make the audience focus more on this character than the others. All of these technical features are used to convey the genre ‘Crime’ in the opening of the film ‘Kidulthood’.